Eva: an Italian book for beginners (A1)
Giovanni Verga · adapted by Alessio Insegnante · CEFR level A1
Giovanni Verga's classic (1873), rewritten for learners of Italian at level A1: calibrated sentences, footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions in every chapter.
Ebook free with Kindle Unlimited · $4.99 · also in 6×9 paperback
The plot of Eva
Enrico Lanti, a young Sicilian painter, arrives in Florence full of dreams: he wants to live for art and become famous. One evening at the theatre he sees Eva, a beautiful dancer, and falls hopelessly in love. For her he gives up everything: his work, his friends, his ambitions.
But love and art are not enough in a society that measures everything in money. Between passion and disillusion, Enrico learns the price of his dreams, in one of Verga's most intense early novels.
Why read Eva to learn Italian
A linear plot with few characters: ideal for never losing the thread at A1. The dialogues between Enrico and Eva teach the vocabulary of emotions and art, while the present and passato prossimo alternate in short, clear sentences.
Inside this reader
CEFR adaptation
The text is fully rewritten for level A1, with controlled vocabulary and syntax, while staying faithful to the original plot.
Footnotes and glossary
Footnotes on difficult words and a final glossary, so you can read independently without a dictionary.
Comprehension questions
Every chapter ends with questions to check understanding, just like in class.
Paperback and ebook
6×9 paperback on cream paper, or Kindle ebook. The same text also lives in the ti app.
Language focus: what you practise
In this level-A1 edition you mainly practise the present tense, the passato prossimo, basic articles and prepositions, short coordinated sentences. The vocabulary revolves around art, theatre and feelings: the key words, with translations, are in the glossary below and recur throughout the text, so you learn them in context.
Essential glossary (Italian · English · Dutch)
| Italian | English | Dutch |
|---|---|---|
| il pittore | painter | de schilder |
| la ballerina | dancer | de danseres |
| il quadro | painting | het schilderij |
| l'arte | art | de kunst |
| la gloria | glory | de roem |
| il teatro | theatre | het theater |
| il denaro | money | het geld |
| la malattia | illness | de ziekte |
About the author: Giovanni Verga
Giovanni Verga (1840–1922) is the father of Italian verismo, the author of I Malavoglia and Mastro-don Gesualdo. Eva belongs to his Florentine period, before his verista turn, and portrays the world of art and bohème.
Details and difficulty level
A1 is the first step of the CEFR: short sentences, present and passato prossimo, high-frequency vocabulary. This reader suits anyone who has just started learning Italian or has completed a first beginner course. Format: 6×9 paperback on cream paper or Kindle ebook; 10 chapters with footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions. All level A1 books →
Frequently asked questions
What level of Italian do I need to read Eva?
This edition of Eva is rewritten for CEFR level A1. A1 is the first step of the CEFR: short sentences, present and passato prossimo, high-frequency vocabulary. This reader suits anyone who has just started learning Italian or has completed a first beginner course.
Is this Giovanni Verga's original text?
No, it is an adaptation: the plot and spirit of Giovanni Verga's original remain, but vocabulary and syntax are rewritten for level A1, with footnotes, a final glossary and comprehension questions at the end of every chapter.
Which formats is it available in?
Paperback (6×9, cream paper) and Kindle ebook on Amazon. The ebook is free to read with Kindle Unlimited. The same text also lives in the ti app, with vocabulary translated into 14 languages.
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Eva also lives inside the ti app, with tap-to-translate vocabulary in 14 languages and animated scenes. On the site you'll also find 700+ free Italian exercises and the blog for Italian learners.
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